Solar Energy is great. It harnesses energy from the sun and even on cloudy days there is enough light to power what are now referred to as "Daylight Panels".
But are there flaws with Solar Energy?
The first and most obvious one, is that they only work during daylight hours. As soon as the sun goes down, you have to rely on the traditional expensive electricity from the major power suppliers.
Traditionally, Solar Panels need to be fitted on the South Facing side of your roof. When we had a salesman out at the house, for 2 of the longest hours of my life, he said that with these daylight panels they don't need direct sunlight - only daylight. Then proceeded to tell me that the reason that some houses couldn't have them is due to the fact they don't have South Facing Roofs! Confused? So am I! Surely if they only require Daylight and not Direct Sunlight it shouldn't matter where the panels are located. In fact, shouldn't you be able to have them on your entire roof - even North Facing slopes?
There is the initial outlay costs, although, many companies are now providing you with "Free" solar panels as long as you sign over the profits made from excess power being sold back to the grid as well as any government subsidies.
This scheme does have its benefits if you are, as an example, on a low income - but only if you are in the house during daylight hours to benefit from using the electricity as and when it is harnessed. I, for one, work during the day so this may not seem as an attractive proposition.
Stirling Council recently furnished much of their housing stock in a similar scheme as above - as long as the tenant signed an agreement that even if they buy their council home under the right to buy scheme then Stirling Council would still own the Solar Panels for 25 years. From what I've heard, they aren't making as much money back from the panels as they'd hoped - but this is unconfirmed.
Recently there was a power cut in the village - so I went to visit someone with Solar Panels thinking "this is great - at least they'll have Electricity"! How wrong was I! It would appear that unless you have a mains supply of Electricity coming into your house, you can't harness and use power from the panels.
I'm not sure if this is due to some incompetent way they have been set up or whether they are designed like that as most homes will probably use more Electricity than is being generated on an overcast winters day!
I'm not saying that Solar/Daylight Panels are bad - I just think that we need to know more about them.
I did recently read an article that Ikea are planning on selling kits that should cost around £5k fitted to your home. The more affordable the initial outlay is - the more likely it is that people will install them.
Perhaps if the residents of Kippen got together and fitted these panels we may get a group discount - does anyone have any ideas on this?
